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Local News Briefs Wednesday 7/24/13

24-Jul-2013

A 44-year-old Sheboygan man won’t be driving drunk anytime soon. Pedro Reynoso was recently sentenced in Sheboygan County Court for his 9th drunk driving conviction. Judge Terrence Bourke sentenced Reynoso to 3 and a half years in prison to be followed by 4 years on extended supervision. The conviction was based on a traffic stop in June of last year.

Waupun Woman Charged For Allegedly Slapping Patient

The 54-year-old Waupun woman suspected of mistreating a patient who was under her care made an initial appearance in Dodge County Court this week. Mary Jo Kearley is charged with one felony count of Intentional Abuse of a Patient, Likely to Cause Bodily Harm. According to the criminal complaint, Kearley was employed at Bethesda Day Services last April when she grew upset with a patient who did not sit down when told. She reportedly grabbed the patient by the hand and slapped her face. Witnesses told investigators that after the incident she said (quote) “I hope that didn’t leave a mark.” During an internal investigation she reportedly said that she just “snapped.” A $1,000 signature bond was ordered. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September.

Park And Ride On FDL City Council Agenda

The Fond du Lac City Council tonight will consider a resolution asking the state’s Department of Transportation to include construction of a park and ride lot when they put in the County Highway V and Highway 151 interchange. The County Highway Committee is making a similar recommendation to the County Board. County Executive Al Buechel says it would be better than what people are currently using, which is space along Camelot Drive. He says it makes sense to include the request as part of the interchange project and would also be a financial benefit to the County which usually has a cost share for such projects. The County Board takes up the park and ride issue next month.

FDL City Council Preview

The Fond du Lac City Council will be asked to approve the purchase of property for a new well site during their meeting tonight. The property is located behind the Boyle home at the corner of Arndt Street and Park Avenue. The purchase price is $80,000. Also during the meeting there will be a public hearing for Industrial Revenue Bond financing for the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts expansion project. The Council will also consider approving a special use permit for Conway Freight for the installation of two 20,000 gallon diesel above-ground storage tanks in the Fox Ridge Industrial Park. The meeting is at 6 p.m. at the City-County Government Center.

West Nile Virus Concerns

Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller is asking residents to take more precautions to avoid mosquito bites. The County had its first dead bird test positive for the West Nile virus about two weeks ago. Meanwhile state health officials reported Monday that the state had its first case of human West Nile virus this year. A Dane County resident was diagnosed with the virus. Mueller says only about a fifth of those who have the virus display the symptoms. She says only about 1 percent suffer severe symptoms. She says the reason they are asking people to be more cautious is because mosquito activity will increase over the next few months.

The Ripon Common Council this week decided not to require more liability insurance for owners of pit bulls in the City. Right now there is a requirement to have $100,000 in liability insurance on a pit bull. Some communities require less and others as much as $1 million. City Administrator Lori Rich says they looked at what about 40 other communities require in reaching their decision. She says there are other requirements for pit bull owners in the City. She says they have to wear pink collars and wear a muzzle when they are out in public. She says the Common Council isn’t done discussing pit bull ownership quite yet. She says the next meeting they will talk about possible training and increased forfeitures for dog owners who aren’t following the ordinance.

Median Cable Barriers Saving Lives On Hwy 41

A state trooper says the median cable barriers on Highway 41 have more than paid for themselves over the years. Scott Hlinak works out of the Fond du Lac Post. He says a semi lost control on Highway 41 near Military Road last winter and the cable barrier kept the accident from becoming more serious. He says it was caught on the DOT cameras and could have ended up in a Mercury Marine detention pond. He says he worked another accident where a motor home pulling a trailer near Lost Arrow Road lost control in high winds. He says the cable barrier stopped him from crossing over into the oncoming lanes. He says the median cable barriers on Highway 41 have prevented many accidents from becoming fatal accidents. Hlinak says they lost track, but he believes the number is around 100. Hlinak says a priority has been placed on putting median cable barriers in Washington County to prevent a high number of crossover accidents.

Bernard Schaber Will Challenge State Senate President

(Wisconsin Radio Network)-There is a challenger for state Senate President Mike Ellis. A Democratic lawmaker from Appleton is challenging the veteran Republican senator from Neenah in next year's fall election. Representative Penny Bernard Schaber thinks Ellis, who's held his seat since 1982, is beatable. She says a poll showed he might be vulnerable and people have told her they aren’t happy with what he has done the last couple of years. Bernard Schaber says she's running to protect public schools and health care. She says it is a big challenge to run for Senate District 19, but the Fox Cities need their voice back at the state capitol. Ellis hasn't faced a Democratic challenger since 1998.

Home Sales Up In FDL County For The Month

Existing home sales were up in Fond du Lac County last month and the median price of a home. According to figures from the Wisconsin Realtors Association (WRA) homes sales were up 2.7 percent and the median price of a home was up by 14.5 percent compared to June of last year. Year to date in the County home sales are up by 5.6 percent and the median price of a home by 5.5 percent. WRA officials say home sales across the state increased by 11.4 percent for the first half of the year compared to last year. For more click here.

Salvation Army Freeze Out

The Salvation Army in Fond du Lac will be benefitting from ice cream sales the next few days. It is part of an effort called “Help Freeze-Out Homelessness” that began yesterday at the three Culvers Custard shops in Fond du Lac. A percentage of profits from sales of food and treats at Dairy Queen on Johnson Street today from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and tomorrow at Gilly’s from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. will help out the Salvation Army’s efforts to help the homeless. The Salvation Army has recently hit a “summer slump” in funding and is in need of support for its homelessness programs, providing rental assistance, utility and water payments for those in need.

Food Drive And Pizza Sales For Ascension Lutheran Church Today

A Fond du Lac church’s community efforts and mission efforts in Belize will be helped out with two different events today. Residents are invited to stop by the church at 901 County Road V in Fond du Lac and drop off donations for the Fondy Food Pantry between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The goal is to fill the Habitat for Humanity truck with donations of nonperishable food and personal hygiene items. Also from 4:30 to 9 p.m. today 10 percent of the sales and 100 percent of the tips from food sales at the Pizza Ranch will go towards supporting the church’s mission efforts in Belize. A match of the amount made from sales will also be given for the cause.

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